Lewis & Clark College vs Pacific University: which has better ROI?
Lewis & Clark College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,052 in 10.4 years versus 11.5 years at Pacific University, on median earnings of $62,205 vs $60,583 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lewis & Clark College | Pacific University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,013 | $35,273 |
| Total net cost | $144,052 | $141,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,205 | $60,583 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $23,223 |
| Payback | 10.4 yrs | 11.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $132,848 | $103,368 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lewis & Clark College or Pacific University?
Pacific University, at $35,273 a year after aid versus $36,013 — a gap of $740 a year, or $2,960 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lewis & Clark College or Pacific University graduates earn more?
Lewis & Clark College graduates report a median $62,205 ten years after entry, $1,622 more than the $60,583 at Pacific University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Lewis & Clark College or Pacific University?
Lewis & Clark College: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $23,223 at Pacific University, a difference of $3,723. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Lewis & Clark College, against 67% at Pacific University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.